Adobe Photoshop CS6 solidifies the benchmark software’s position as the unsurpassed production suite and an essential tool for both old and new generation creative minds: graphic designers, web developers, video editors, you name it.

Let’s begin with the interface: dark is nice. Photoshop CS6 introduces a darker, more concentrated default workspace, with menus and toolbars painted in dark grays and blacks. Of course, if you like a brighter appearance, CS6 offers lighter-colored interfaces that are reminiscent of prior versions. Adobe’s ongoing transition to collapsible menus has resulted in more simplified tools, yet the key features remain visible.

There are just too many new features to mention in such a short review; instead, we’ll take a quick look at some of the most noticeable upgrades. Photoshop CS6 now allows users to search within their layers, which is an important feature for individuals who work on projects with a large number of elements and layer groups, such as UI and web designers. You may search by layer name, type, attribute, or color. Another notable enhancement is the ability to apply layer styles to groups. You may set the layer style for different folders, perhaps allowing for more complicated effects and filter combinations.

Photoshop also improves color setting precision and allows for bespoke form proportions. Creative Suite 6 now takes the typical 3-6 character HEX codes in its color pickers, which is useful for designers who wish to highlight certain Web colors. You may also create custom-sized shapes by entering numerical pixel values to add more exact mock-up components. Photoshop CS6 additionally includes dummy “lorem ipsum” body text, allowing designers to easily paste example paragraphs.

We’ve only scratched the surface of CS6’s features, which include video support and auto-save capability similar to its suite cousin, Adobe Premiere. However, if you’re a creative producer serious about generating industry-standard content, Photoshop CS6 is a powerful, competitive tool.